Oshoala wins maiden BBC female footballer award

Asisat Oshoala

Nigeria striker Asisat Oshoala has been announced winner of the maiden BBC Women footballer of the Year award on Tuesday.

Oshoala beat top women stars – Spain’s Verónica Boquete, German Nadine Kessler, Kim Little of Scotland as well as veteran Brazilian star Marta – to win the individual award after raking the highest votes of BBC World Service listeners.

The reigning African Women Footballer of the Year became the first African-based footballer to play in the English Women’s Super League after joining Liverpool Ladies from Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt.

The 20-year-old shone with her superb form at the 2014 U20 Women’s World Cup in Canada, scoring seven goals in six matches. She also helped her country to win the 2014 African Women Championship in Namibia as well as her former club to a domestic double.

The Super Falcons’ forward has been an instant hit since joining the Reds in January, scoring two goals and several assists for the reigning English Women Super League champions.

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The former FC Robo starlet will hope to achieve big at the senior international level after her heroics powered Nigeria to her seventh Fifa Women’s World Cup appearance which starts on 6 June in Canada.

Nigeria will open their World Cup campaign against Sweden on Monday, June 8.